All those who have this land’s best interests at heart must come together to argue for the preservation of the United Kingdom.

SNP separatist Alex Salmond’s hazy, emotional arguments do not stand up to scrutiny when he is probed on jobs, businesses and economy.

What money would an independent Scotland use? Would Scots be able to serve in the military? What would replace the NHS? And the BBC, that first B standing for British?

Up to now, Mr Salmond has enjoyed an easy ride. Not any more. The global financial crisis proved England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are stronger together than apart when it would have bankrupted an independent Scotland, as it did Iceland.

David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg are in rare agreement, so tactical differences mustn’t cloud an argument which needs be put clearly and strongly.

Whatever the shape of the referendum in autumn 2014, this is a Battle of Britain that must be won.

Dish the dirt

HOSPITALS spending as little as 86p per meal for patients isn’t a welcome sign of wonderful efficiency.

Restricting the cost of feeding the sick to as low as £2.57 a day is worrying evidence they are denied the nourishment they need.

Our health service is fantastic at treating the ill, and its accident and emergency units perform miracles when car crash victims are brought in close to death.

But our greatest institution needs to do more to improve so-called “hotel” services.